Madigan's

In Ellicottville for the wine and beer fest at Holiday Valley, shuttle dropped us at Balloons. Definitely not ready for that, yet. We decided to pop into Madigan's. Not too crowded. Easy to get a drink. Prices good. Music was hit or miss.

This is a review for the "bar" aspect of Madigans - no food involved!

We were in EVL for Fall Fest, and I've also been to Madigan's for a variety of other reasons - bachelorette parties, pre- and post-wedding celebrations, etc.

The good:
- if you're looking for some groovin' music aimed towards 23-33 year olds, this is your place. But, it's not the only place in EVL.
- big enough to accommodate crowds on most nights (but def not during Ocktoberfest)
- drink prices aren't too bad, all things considered.

The bad:
- Bouncers are power trippy. I know this is the norm with bars, but that doesn't make it okay. We had left and lost our friends on the way - when I tried to go back in the door I had literally *just* walked out (not the front door... just an re-entrance), the guy wouldn't make eye contact with me and kept man-handling me off to the side while he starting calling at a group of guys a few feet away to go in. douche.
- sort of covered-in-sweat-and-booze feeling.

The ugly:
1. $5 cover... that's fine. BUT... $5 to go upstairs (which you pretty much had to because there wasn't one inch of space downstairs). A promise that it was roomy and not as hot upstairs... that was a complete lie. If you go downstairs and want to go back up? another $5 please. Just charge $10 right away and let us come and go as we please.
2. $50 credit card minimum?!?! Time to get all lawyer on this. A law passed in 2010, H. R. 4173 sec. 1075, states:
''(3) LIMITATION ON RESTRICTIONS ON SETTING TRANSACTION
MINIMUMS OR MAXIMUMS.--
''(A) IN GENERAL.--A payment card network shall not... inhibit the ability of any person to set a minimum dollar value for the acceptance by that person of credit cards, to the extent that -- (II) such minimum dollar value does not exceed $10.00(.)"
TEN DOLLARS. Not FIFTY. Again, douche.

So, as per usual with my unhappy experiences: place wasn't too bad, but management is clearly doing something wrong. I'd much rather go to... lots of other places in EVL!

Best drink prices!  The place to be if youre thirsty!